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Gonzales began drawing comics while he was in high school. His amateur comic strip was called The Adventures of Chico Loco, and the characters were based on "barrio guys," as Gonzales grew up on the tough streets of a poverty-ridden Mexican-American neighborhood.[4] The main character, based on Gonzales himself, was called "Hollywood." The strip, which later changed its title to The Adventures of Hollywood,[4] was picked up by Lowrider magazine and published monthly. More and more barrio characters from Gonzales' experiences were introduced to the public through the Hollywood strip — these became "Homies." (The word "homie" [from "homeboy"] is a slang term found in American urban culture, meaning a male friend from back home, or, in a broader sense, anyone that you would acknowledge as your friend. In use in the West Coast Latino community for decades, the word "homie" has crossed over into the now mainstream Hip-Hop street culture.)

Gonzales began drawing his humorous characters on T-shirts and other products, which he and his wife sold on local beach stands, swap meets, liquor stores, and eventually urban clothing stores.[5][6]

In 1998, Gonzales released the first set of Homies figurines, initially sold in supermarket vending machines located in Chicano communities.[7] The first series featured the male characters Eight Ball, Smiley, Big Loco, Droopy, Sapo, and Mr. Raza.[4] The toys were widely popular, with the first series selling a million Homies figures in four months.[4]

The figures caused controversy after their initial release as members of the Los Angeles Police Department argued that the "urban, inner-city Latino"[4] figures glorified gang life. Law enforcement entities pressured retailers to stop selling Homies;[8] as a result, many mainstream stores, such as Walmart and Safeway Inc., stopped selling the toys.[2]

In response, Gonzales repeatedly explained that he “did not create Homies to glamorize gang life”.[8] He created stories for each characters on the Homies website,[4] with each one embodying a positive trait.[1] Stores quickly returned the Homies to their shelves;[8] the resulting media coverage of the controversy helped Homies gain ever more popularity.[3]

According to Gonzales, he has received orders from countries in Europe, South America, and Africa requesting Homies characters representing people from those continents.[8] By 2005, the Homies line featured female characters, as well as characters with Puerto Rican, Filipino, and Japanese backgrounds. There have been 12 series of Homies, with more than 200 characters.[4]

In their fictional world, the Homies are a group of tightly knit Chicano buddies who grew up in the Mexican-American barrio of "Quien Sabe" ("Who knows?") located in East Los Angeles. In an inner-city world plagued by poverty, violence, and drugs, the Homies form a strong and binding cultural support system that enables them to overcome the surrounding negativity, allowing for laughter and good times as an antidote to reality. As befitting these characters from the barrio, many Homies wear bandanas and baggy pants.[1] The four main Homies are Hollywood (based on creator Gonzales),[4]Smiley, Pelon, and Bobby Loco.

Gonzales has created a background for each Homie to have their own story. He made sure that the Homies were authentic because they were based on Latinos in his community.[3] The following is a list of some of the more notable Homies characters:

First series:

Eight Ball — Known for his distinctive low-slung beanie and big smile, he is named for the numbers painted on his shoes

Smiley — based on a childhood friend of creator David Gonzales,[4] Smiley is a mechanic who works at "Homies Hydraulics," and is perpetually broke and borrowing money off the other Homies

Hollywood — based on creator David Gonzales,[4] Hollywood is known by his zoot suit and 1970s disco hairstyle

La Gata ("The Cat") — Hollywood's girlfriend, she is loosely based on creator David Gonzales' wife[6]

Pelon — based on a childhood friend of creator David Gonzales,[4] Pelon ("bald" in Spanish) is named for his bald head. A small-time hustler, Pelon sells stolen merchandise from the back of his 1941 Chevypanel sedan. Smiley's best friend, Pelon is the most stereotypically cholo of the Homies.

Bobby Loco — based on a childhood friend of creator David Gonzales,[4] he is a bouncer at the "Homie Hot Spot"

Chuco — short for "Pachuco," a lowriding, zoot suit-wearing Chicano from the 1940s and 50s

Joker — true to his name, an inveterate clown and jokester

El Paletero — ice cream vendor who works to bring his grandchildren from Mexico[1]

Officer Placa — chubby police officer who knows all the Homies by name[1]

El Padrecito ("the little father") — Franciscan priest in sunglasses, based on creator David Gonzales' brother Robert (who is a priest)[1]

El Profe — a Master's degree-qualified high school teacher who stays in the barrio to help[7]

The LAPD's complaints about the Homies figures were based on the characters' appearances. Since gangbangers are usually depicted in similar clothes as those of the Homies, the police felt the toys promoted gang life.[2] In fact, the Homies figures so closely matched gang members' attire that an L.A. county district deputy attorney was inclined to use the Homies toys as an example of what not to wear. He suggested that people who were dressed in such a manner would be considered as violating probation.[8]

Similarly, Latino advocacy groups such as the Imagen Foundation objected to the Homies portrayal of Chicanos as "gang members, undocumented, or drug dealers."[2] Other groups felt the Homies perpetuated gross stereotype about Chicanos.[2]

On the other hand, the Homies toy line has been shown to help Latin American adolescents with their cultural identity and self-esteem.[3][7] As the toy line has expanded, the various characters carry a much greater range of lifestyle choices and possibilities.[3]

Another positive way the Homies toys have influenced society is via Gonzales’s brother, Robert, who after a life of crime and violence, became a priest. Himself confined to a wheelchair. Robert suggested that Gonzales create a Homie in a wheelchair. Willie G, as the character was named, has since become one of the more popular Homies, even being promoted by the Special Olympics.[1] The Homie character Padrecito ("priest") resembles Robert, and has been used to connect with and help those looking for a route out of the ghetto. Through “El Padrecito’s Online Church,” Homies have made it easier for society to connect with those looking to improve their lives; on the website people can create religious figurines, such as saints.[1]

With their rising popularity, the Homies line branched out to include die-cast cars, among other things. In 2004, Gonzales created Mijos, a line of figurines portrayed as Latino kids, babies, and teens intended for a younger customer base.[10]

Homies characters have been featured on school folders, lunchboxes, breath mints, and beach towels.[1] Homies have also been seen on posters, stickers, and clothing, and in YouTube videos.[3]

In 2007, LATV produced a stop-motion animated show about the figures called The Homies Hip Hop Show. Featuring the voices of Karen Anzoategui, Eduardo Arenas, and Wendy Carrillo, the show went straight to DVD.